House Majority Leader Eric Cantor's leadership aides are on the job market after his stunning primary defeat . They also happen to be some of the sharpest people on Capitol Hill.

Among Cantor's top staffers are:

Steve Stombres — Cantor's chief of staff has been at the Virginia Republican's side since 2001, along for the majority leader's swift rise through the ranks. He's been in the room for many of the key, climactic budget negotiations in recent years. A longtime member of Roll Call's Fabulous 50 staffers, Stombres plans to leave Capitol Hill .

Neil Bradley — Cantor's deputy chief of staff and perennial Fab 50 member combines a sharp understanding of politics and policy and has likewise been in the thick of many of the major deals on Capitol Hill. Bradley’s résumé is gold-plated — five years as executive director of the Republican Study Committee, policy director and then legislative director for then-Majority Whip Roy Blunt, and legislative director and now deputy chief for Cantor.

Doug Heye — Cantor's deputy chief of staff for communications recently earned a spot on the Fab 50 . He's affable, has good relations with the press corps and boasts an active Twitter following . Heye came to Cantor's staff after doing private consulting following a stint as a top spokesman at the Republican National Committee. He is expected to leave the Hill and his friends have been throwing him parties anticipating a move.

Katie Patru — Cantor's member services director has relationships with key staffers and members across the Republican Conference, and has been a Fab 50 member.

Rory Cooper — Cantor’s communications director is close to his boss and played a major role in messaging strategy. He's also one of the most active — and followed — Hill staffers on Twitter.

Policy advisers are often the most sought-after when they leave Capitol Hill.

Cheryl Jaeger is Cantor’s top health care adviser; Aaron Cutler focuses on financial services, energy and commerce; Robert Karem is the point-person on defense and foreign policy and Roger Mahan is the top staffer for budget and appropriations.

Floor directors for the majority leader — who runs the floor — also have invaluable experience. Chris Vieson is the director; his deputy is Sarah Morgan.